Wall tiling



Nov. 3, 1931. G. BENNETT WALL TILI N G Filed Jan. 14, 1950 2Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY.

Nov. 3, 1931. G. L. BENNETT WALL TILING Filed Jani 14, 1930 2Sheets-Sheet 2 t mwllll INIIJM H. L

ATToRNEY,

l n 1 l.

Patented Nov. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE GEORGE LVBENNETT, FCLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO 'WALL TILING Application filed January 14. 1930.Serial No. 420.683.

units and attaching means co-operating there-A with,`each so formed asto permit arapid and accurate mounting of the tiles with permanency intheir relation to each other and to the wall, and a linish betweenadjacent tiles which will not only protect the edges of the sheet metalfrom which the tile proper is formed, but will itself be firmly anchoredin relation to the tiles.

Heretofore, various types of sheet metal wall tiles have been employed,which tiles have been so constructed as to permit themto be set andsecured against the wall by means of nails, much in the manner commonlyused in laying roof tiling or shingles.

In finishing a room with such tiles, there is not only a considerablelabor cost, but skilled labor is required and the tiles themselves arenot always firmly secured in position, nor accurately set. Furthermore,in the general type of tiles to which I above refer, cement applied tothe seams between adjacent tiles does not have the desired permanencysince the glazed surface of the tiles upon the side flanges does notafford an adequate anchorage for the plaster.

With the above conditions in mind, I have provided a wall tile structurewherein the various tile units are so formed as to not only interlockwith attaching clips, but to presentbetween adjacent tiles, undercut, 35dove-tailed seams for the reception of plaster or other material, which,when set, will be held against displacement, since the anchorage is dueto the form of the seams and not to the adhesion of the plaster to thesurface of the side flanges of the tiles.

The formation of the tile, and of the cooperating-attaching clips issuch as to permit the application of vitreous enamel to the entireexposed surface of the tile and upon the side flanges of the tileadjacent this exposed surface, the shrinkage of the enamel from the edgeof the sheet of which the tile is formed during baking, being no factor,since this edge is not exposed to view and is protected by the plasterfilling the seams between adjacent tiles.

The manner of forming the tiles is also such as to impart a high degreeof rigidity throughout the tile, although in the case oi' tiles oflarger dimensions, that is, in excess of 6 inches square, means may beprovided, so formed and disposed in relation to those portions of thetile lacking the desired rigidity, to secure this portion of the tile inrelation to the wall in a manner to prevent inward or outward movementof the tile at such a point or points.

The attaching clips are so disposed as to hold each tile againstvertical movement in a plane parallel with the plane of the wall, andalso to hold the tile firmly against the wall board to which the clipsare attached. Furthermore, by the use of such clips, the setting of eachtile may be predetermined by securing the clips to a wall facing board,while in the factory, thus avoiding the labor and skill which otherwisewould be required in :lccurately positioning these clips upon the waWhile the majority of tiles used in a wall structure are ordinarily whatmay be termed, flat tiles, the construction of the tile units, and ofthe attaching clips, issuch as to be readily adapted to interior orexterior angular tiles for finishing oli' the corners about a room. Ialso provide specially formed cap tiles and base tiles for finishing theWall tiling structure. These various forms of tiles, while beingrequisite to secure the desired finish, differ from the standard tilesonly in their configuration to adapt them to their particular uses.

The invention consists in the novel features of constructionand'combination of parts 90 hereinafter set forth and described, andmore Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of a fragmentary portion of thetile showing the reinforcing or sti'ening means employed with largertiles; A Fig. 4 is a front view of a small size tile, the attachingclips being indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view upon the line 5-5 of Fig. 4,extended to include portions of adjacent tiles;

Figs. 6 and 7 are 'respectively an edge and a face view of an interiorangle tile;

Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively an edge and a face view of exteriorcorner tiles;

Figs. 10 and 11 are respectively a vertical section and a front view ofa portion of a cap tile; Y

Fig. 12 is a vertical section showing the floor nishing tile strip; andan Figs. 13 and 14 are modified forms of attaching clips.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the embodiments of the invention shown 2i in Figs. 1 to 9, each tileunit shown has certain characteristics in common, to Witt-a dished sheetmetal, vitreous coated, tile having a flat, exposed face portion 20, andinwardly converging side flanges 21, also coated with vitreous enamel.Each tile is secured against a Wall facing board 22 by means of a springclip arrangement consisting of metal strips 23 and 24, each provided,

at the opposite ends thereof, with a yieldable' clip or latch member 25engageable respectively with a converging side iiange of the tileproper. These yieldable clip or latch members 25 are of a configurationto interlock with the inwardly converging side flanges of the tiles soas to firmly hold the tiles, not only against vertical movement, butalso against movement toward and from the wall board 22. Such latchmembers are lalso so formed as to yield when subjected to pressure fromthe edge of a side flange.

.Since all of the tiles to be used will ordinarily have the same surfacearea, it is obvious that the spring clip members 23 and 24 may .beapplied to the wall board 22 in the shop, so as to accurately locate allof the tiles secured in relation thereto in one course, in relationtothe tiles of an adjacent course, and properly space them, thus avoidinthe labor and skill of setting tiles during thelr installation in aroom..

The wall boards 22 may be of any desired material and of any desireddimensions, it being understood, however, that the dimensions of theboards will be such as to accom- 00 modate a considerable number oftiles. The

advantage of the use of a wall board 22 is that it may be `attachedfirmly to the wall by means of the studding by unskilled labor, therigidity or permanency of the various tiles 55 being determined by themanner of attaching the clips to the wall board, and not to the securingof a proper anchorage for each clip in relation to the wall itself.

In positioning the clips upon the wall board, they are so set as toprovide a seam of the desired width between adjacent tiles of eachcourse, which seam, by reason of the inwardly converging side fianges ofthe tile proper, will be of progressively increasing Width toward thewall board, thus forming an undercut or dove-tailed pocket for receivingthe finishing plaster or cement, shown at 26 in the drawings, whichplaster or cement will consequently be locked in the seam withoutpossibility of its escape therefrom even after long continuedinstallation of the tiles. By this construction, adhesion of the plasterto the surface of the tile at the seams is unnecessary.

The inwardly converging side iianges of each tile serve the three-foldobject of stiftening the tile as a whole, thus permitting the productionof tiles from light metal stock, of retaining the tiles in position incombination with the attaching clips, and of retaining the plaster usedin finishing the seams between the tiles.

The side flanges 21 may be madecontinuous by a folded and welded jointat the corners, as shown in Fig. 4, or may be interrupted at the cornersas shown in Fig. 1, the formation of the corners being largely a matterof design to facilitate production methods by means of tools.

The depth of the flanges 21 will, in actual practice, rarely exceedone-quarter of an inch, the scale of Figs. 1 to 3 and 5 of the drawingsbeing grossly enlarged, while that of Figs. 4 and 6 to 13 beingapproximately accurate.

By providing slightly rounded edges at the juncture of the face and sideanges, shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 5, a proper application ofvitreous enamel throughout the exposed portion of each tile is assured,and any imperfections of the enamel, developed during the bakingoperation about the edges of the fianges, will be concealed andprotected by the plaster of the seams.

The surface dimensions of the` various wall tiles may vary according tothe artistic requirements in finishing a room, but variance in theconfiguration of the surface of the tile requires no modification in thestructural characteristics thereof with the exception that if tiles sixinches or more in length are to be used, it is desirable to providestiffening or reinforcing means more or less remote from the sideflanges, so as to avoid the flexure of the tile as a result of pressureor irnpacts thereon.

When such reinforcing or stiii'ening means is required, I apply, bywelding, to the under side of the face of the tile, a sheet metal barb27, the base of which is provided with oppositely offset iianges 28 and29 to facilitate the .and the portion of the tile to which it isattached, against displacement, either toward or from the wall board 22.These spring clip members 3 0 may, like the spring clips 23 l otherportion of the wall structure.

and 24, be attached to the back board in the shop, the clips'4 being ofsufficient length to adapt them to an irregularities in the positioningof the bar s of different tiles and permit horizontalV adjustment of atile in relation to its attaching clips.

This reinforcing or stifening means isillustrated in Figs. 1 to 3.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, in these views an interior corner angle tileis shown. The construction of this tile differs from that heretoforereferred to, in that it is bent'intermediate the vertical flanges upon acurve as shown at 32, so'as to form a rounded cove at an interior angleof a room. .j

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, the construction is such as to provide anoverhanging, curved tongue 33 at one edge of the tileto form an exteriorangle. This construction necessitates the formation at this edge of thetile of a reinforcing fiange, differing from the formation of the otherflanges, as shown more particularly in Fig. 8. g

Referring to Figs. 10 and 11, these views show the detailed constructionof a cap tile in its relation to the top course of the tiling for givinga finish at this point. It consists of a sheet metal strip 34, the faceof which maybe drawn to any desired configuration, and the upper portionof which is inclined toward the wall 35 and formed downwardly with areverse flange portion 36 to form a keeper adapted to interlock with aspring latch plate 37 secured to the studding gr T e bottom of the stripis formed inwardly, as at 38, and downwardly as at 39, to form a tongueengageable by the back board 22 adjacent the uppermost course of tiles.

In these views and throughout the drawings, the studding is indicated at40. The upper portion of the cap tile is enclosed by the wall plaster41.

In Fig. 13, I have shown the details of the attaching clip, shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 5, in which the shank 42 of the clip or latch memberprojects at an obtuse angle from the stri so as to bring the latchmember well wit in the pocket about the side flange of the tile proper.This construction gives a fairly stiff spring action, which, from thestandpoint of rigidity in the setting of the tile, is desirable, vbutmakes the setting of the tile somewhat more difficult by reason of thestiffness of the latch member. On the other hand, in Fig. 14, I haveshown a latch member 25 in which the shank 43 extends at substantiallyright angles to the strip 34 which has the e ect of making the latchmember more resilient and thus give increased ease in the setting of thetile with' a possible sacrifice of some of the rigidity in theset of thetile. However, the construction of the latch member 25 may be variedalmost indefinitely for the purpose of controlling its action whenmounting the tile by means of the clip or latch member, and in holdingthe tile in position after attachment.

It is obvious that whatever the form of latch member used, it mustengage the side flanges 21 of the tiles in a manner to hold them againstthev wall board or wall, and

j width of the seams between tiles in ad'acent courses preparatory tothe filling o such seams with Vthe plaster or cement 26. It ispreferable to also make the stem of the latch members of a length toengage the rear wall of the face of the tile, so that the latch memberswill be engaged within the pocket formed by the side flanges and thusfirmly hold the tiles in position.

To give a finish to the tiling adjacent the fioor of a room I providewhat may be termed a mop strip, such as is shown in Fi 12. This consistsof a strip 44 of a width to ring the vertical flange 45 in closecontacting relation with the face of a'tile positioned against the wallimmediately above the base 44. Extending downwardly from the flange 45is a face portion 46 which has a downwardly and outwardly concavecurvature. This face portion is coated with vitreous enamel, in factthewhole strip ordinarily being so lcoated. These mop strips form aslight cove adjacent the floor, and will serve to protect the wall atthe floor line and also may be used for holding the floor covering inposition adjacent the tiling.

With a tile wall structure such as is herein described, it is obviousthat when Wall boards 22 are used, which is preferable, the variousclips 23-24 may be nailed, screwed, riveted or otherwise secured uponlarge sheets of the back board, while in the shop. Accuracy in thelocation of the strips supporting the clips or latch members may besecured by means of templets, so that the Work may be rapidly done. Ifit be desired not to use such boards, the same templets may be used onthe job, but this will require more time than would be consumed whendoing the work in the shop.

When installing the tiling it is merely necessary, when the back board22 is, used, to nail the boards to the wall studding, thussimultaneously accurately positioning all vof the clips or latch memberscarried by each board in relation to each other and to the wall. Theback boards may be cut and fitted upon the job, and the' end clips orlatch members may be reset if necessary towards the end of any course.When the clips are in position, whether the back board be used orwhether the clips be applied directly to the studding or lathing, it ismerely necessary for an unskilled workman to apply the tiles to the wallby pressing them against the clips or latch members which will yield topermit the passage of the side flanges of the tile, immediately snappinginto place when the tile is in proper position in relation to the backboard or the wall.

When the tiles are in proper position, the cap tile strips or units arepositioned contiguous to the uppermost course of tiles by slipping theflange 39 beneath the top edge of the uppermost wall board 22, and backof the upper side flange or flanges of the top course of the regulartiles, and the tongue 39 beneath the latch plate 37. The manner ofapplying either interior or exterior angle tiles is the same as with theregular tiles.

It will be noted that by using, with each tile, strips 23 and 24extending parallel with each other and engaging the opposite sideflanges of a tile, each tile is not only secured in relation to the wallat a plurality of points, but is held against vertical movement afterbeing so attached, while lateral adjustment to a limited extent insetting the tiles of a course by Widening of vertical seams betweentiles, is permitted.

So far as the mop board finish is concerned, the strip 44 is set uponthe floor of the room and inserted beneath the lower edge of the backboard'22 and the side flange of the lowermost course of tiles with thevertical flange 45 of this strip engaging the face of the tiles of thelowerrnost course. The curved face 46 of this strip has sufficientresiliency to permit the edge of oilcloth or other floor covering to beinserted beneath same by slightly raising this face, it being feasibleto groove the floor covering so that when the face 46 returns to itsnormal position, its lower edge will enter this slot and thus serve as aretainer for the floor covering.

During the progress of installing. the tiling, or upon the completion ofthe setting of all of the tiles, the various seams may be filled withplaster or other cement, which, as heretofore stated, will be locked inposition by reason of the dove-tailed formation inwardly of the variousseams. To properly reinforce the facing 46 of the mop board strip, thespace between said face 46 and the vertical flange 45 should be filledwith plaster or cement at the time of laying the floor.

All of the tile elements may be made of fairly light sheet metal stockand coated with a suitable vitreous enamel. It will be noted that whenthese various tile elements are in position, there is no exposure of anyedge ofthe sheet from which the tile is made, so

that the shrinkage of the enamel away from such edges, during baking,will not result in any unslghtliness in the finished wall. Since thetiles are made of sheet metal 'by means of bending, forming or drawingdies, there will be a slight curvature about the juncture of each sideflange with the face of the corresponding element which, while notnoticeable in the tile, will ensure a proper continuous enamel coatingat this point.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details ofconstruction shown in the drawings, it being obvious that such may bevaried without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to haveprotected by Letters Patent, is

1. Wall tiling embodying therein a plurality of enamelled sheet metaltiles, each having converging side flanges, and a spring clip forpermanent attachment to a wall structure engageable with a side flangeof each tile,

2. Wall tiling embodying therein a plurality of enamelled sheet metaltiles, each having converging side flanges, a Wall board adapted to befitted and attached to the wall of a room, and a plurality of springclips permanently attached to said wall board, each of said spring clipsbeing engageable with the side flange of each tile.

3. Wall tilingembodying therein a plurality of enamelled sheet metaltiles, each having converging side flanges, and a metallic strip forpermanent attachment to a wall structure, having at the opposite endsthereof clips 0r latch members engageable with opposite flanges of eachtile.

4. Wall tiling embodying therein a plurality of enamelled sheet metaltiles, each having converging side flanges, a wall board adapted to befitted and attached to the wall of a room, and a plurality of metallicstrips permanently attached to said wall board, having at the oppositeends thereof clips or latch members engageable with opposite flanges 0feach tile.

5. Wall tiling embodying therein a plurality of enamelled sheet metaltiles, each having converging side flanges, a spring clip for permanentattachment to a wall structure engageable with a side flange of eachtile, whereby tiles in the same course and in adjacent courses arespaced apart Vby a dovetailed seam, and a plaster filler for said seams.

6. Wall tiling embodying therein a plurality of enamelled sheet metaltiles, each having converging side flanges, a spring clip for permanentattachment to a wall structure engageable with a side flange of eachtile, a barb carried by said tiles remote from said side flanges, andparallel clips for permanent attachment to a wall structure engageablewith said barb, whereby in tiles of larger dimensions said barb willprevent exure of the tile intermediate said flanges.

7. Wall tiling embodying therein a plurality of enamelled sheet metaltiles, each having converging side flanges, a wall board adapted to befitted and attached to the wall of a room, a plurality of metallicstrips permanently attached to said wall board, having at the oppositeends thereof clips or latch members engageable with opposite flanges ofeach tile, a barb carried by said tiles remote from said side flanges,and parallel clips permanently attached to said wall board engageablewith lsaid barb, whereby in tiles of larger dimentions said barb willprevent flexure of the tile intermediate said flanges.

8. Wall tiling embodying therein interior corner angle enamelled sheetmetal tiles, each having converging side flanges, and each being bentintermediate the vertical side flanges upon a curve so as to bring theopposite ends of the tiles in substantially right angular position, andspring clips for permanent attachment to a wall structure engageablewith saidflanges of each such tile.

9. Wall tiling embodying therein exterior corner angle enamelled sheetmetal tiles, each having an overhanging, curved tongue at one edgethereof, and spring clips for permanent attachment to a wall structureengageable with said flanges of each such tile.

10. Wall tiling embodying therein cap tiles, consisting of a sheet metalenamelled strip, the upper portion of which is inclined toward the walland provided with a. downwardly formed portion, a reverse ange portion,a spring latch plate co-operating with said reverse flange portion andadapted yto be permanently attached to a wall structure, the bottom ofsaid strip being formed inwardly and downwardly, whereby a tongue isformed adapted to be inserted back of the uppermost course of tiles. N

11. Wall tiling embodying therein a sheet metal enamelled mop strip,consisting of a strip having a base flange adapted to be seated upon theHoor of a room, a vertical flange adapted to engage the face of thelowermost course of tiles, and a downwardly and outwardly concave faceportion engageable with the floor covering of a room.

In witness whereof I have hereunto aixed my signature this 11th day ofJanuary, 1930.

GEORGE L. BENNETT.

